Area Information

Munich is the third largest city in Germany and also the capital of Bavaria State. It is located on the Isar River, north of the Bavarian Alps. The city’s name comes from the Benedictine Monks who founded the city and the city’s coat of arms depicts a monk.

Business Information

Modern Munich is a financial and publishing hub. It is also the economic centre of southern Germany. The headquarters of Siemens AG (electronics), BMW (car), MAN AG (truck manufacturer, engineering), Linde (gases), Allianz (insurance), and more are in the city of Munich. There are many high-rise and historical buildings throughout Munich that provide office space for national and international companies, such as Microsoft.

Entertainment And Dining Out

Beer Gardens are a staple in Munich and something you have to try at least once. There is beer, music, and generally a great deal of laughter. There is a wide selection of beer gardens in the Munich area including, Hirschgarten, which is Europe’s biggest beer garden. There are over 8000 seats at this location, and besides the beer garden there is a mini-zoo with deer and wild boars. Kugleralm is a smaller, traditional beer garden offering a special for cyclists that is a mixture of beer and lemonade, the ‘Radler’ drink contains less alcohol.
Munich is home to Bavarian cuisine. One specialty is Weißwurst, a traditional breakfast sausage that often served with Weissbier (white beer). Another favourite is Schweinsbraten (roasted pork) or Schweinshaxe (roasted pig’s knuckle). Munich is also host a large selection of international restaurants that include Afghan, Chinese, French, Indian, Nigerian, Irish, Italian, Japanese and typically American fast food. One dining option is Bergwolf, serving currywurst – a sliced spicy sausage that has curried ketchup on top. This is a favourite late night diner.

Transport Information

Within 30 km (19 mi) north east of the Munich city centre is the Franz Josef Strauss International Airport. This is Germany’s second largest airport, after Frankfurt. The airport can be reached by suburban train lines S8 from the east and S1 from the western part of the city. From Munich’s main railway station, the Hauptbahnhof, the journey takes 40–45 minutes. The metropolitan area of Munich has one of the most comprehensive public transportation systems in the world. It includes the Munich U-Bahn (underground railway), the Munich S-Bahn (suburban trains), trams, and buses. The Kaufinger Strasse and Weinstrasse are long pedestrian walkways that cover an extensive area of the city’s centre that can be enjoyed on foot and bike.